CLEVELAND, Tenn. - For just the second time this season, the Valdosta State softball team let a conference series slip away, as the Lee Flames took down the Blazers 13-6 in Saturday's Gulf South Conference rubber match in Cleveland, Tenn.
 
Valdosta State started strong in the top half of the opening inning and scored two runs on three hits, but two walks and a homer for Lee's first three hitters in the bottom half of the inning gave the Flames a 3-2 lead.
 
The Blazers were forced to go to the bullpen early, but the Flames continued to pile on in the bottom half of the next inning, using two hits, two walks, and two hit batsmen to open up a 7-2 lead through two innings of play.
 
During the next two innings, the Blazers chipped away with one run in the top of the third and three runs in the fourth on three hits, one of which was a two-run homer off the bat of Chelsea Canara. The homer marked Canara's ninth of the year, and the pair of RBI's cut VSU's deficit to one run at 6-7 and accounted for two of three RBI's for the senior slugger on the day.
 
Valdosta State's comeback effort was turned away, as the Lee offense rattled off seven more hits for six more runs over the course of the next two innings to open up a 13-6 lead, from which VSU could not overcome.
 
The Blazers, who remained in first place in the GSC standings, fell to 25-8 overall and 14-4 in conference play, while the Flames upped their season record to 22-10 on the year and 11-7 against conference opponents.
 
Next up for the Blazers, it's a Tuesday non-conference doubleheader against Eckerd. The contest is slated for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park.